Argentinian forward and Benfica star Angel di Maria has revealed that his time with the Argentinian national team is limited as he looks forward to retiring from the international scene very soon. Angel di Maria has won every single thing available in international football for Argentina.

His club football career has taken him across the biggest leagues in Europe, where he played for Real Madrid in Spain, Manchester United in England, Juventus in Italy, and Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Everywhere he went, Di Maria won loads of trophies, but just like Messi, an international trophy and silverware was lacking for the winger. However the versatile attacker did win the Olympic Gold medal in 2008, but it took more than a decade later before winning the Copa America with the senior national team, which was followed by the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

While the likes of Messi will hope to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted by USA, Mexico, and Canada, Di Maria is not looking up to that extent as he has revealed he will be retiring after the next Copa America in 2024.

The 35-year-old had apparently made his decision at the end of the 2021/22 season when he told Lionel Messi of his decision.

“I will leave the Argentina national team after Copa America — it’s over for me. I hugged Messi at PSG and told him: the only thing I’m grateful for is to have been able to play with you in a club, to be able to see you every day.” Di Maria said.

The 35-year-old winger has played over 134 international games for Argentina, scoring 29 goals. He was very instrumental as Argentina won the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, scoring in both finals against Brazil and France, respectively.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu